Eduard Detail Sets for the HK B-17G, Part 2: Aft Fuselage and Other Interior Detail Sets — 1:48 Scale

In 2019, the first new-tool 1:48 B-17G Flying Fortress kit in over 40 years was released by HK Models.  While it is not flawless, it indeed outshines the classic Monogram and Revell Flying Fortress kits (and you can read our detailed review of the HK Models 1:48 scale B-17G HERE.  Eduard developed and released a range of detail sets to bring a really exceptional level of detail to the HK B-17G.  We have divided these 14 different photoetched metal and cast resin detail sets into five separate reviews.  Here in Part 2, we check out three sets covering the aft fuselage interior and other related interior items.

Eduard # 491062 B-17G Waist Section (MSRP: $29.95):  One of the more visible interior sections of the B-17G is the waist gunner’s positions.  This set for this area of the airplane contains two photoetched metal frets.  One is pre-painted with 53 parts, and the other fret is unpainted with 36 parts.  Key features covered here are the ammo boxes and ammo chutes for the left and right waist gunners, various sidewall details including oxygen regulators, gauges, electrical hook-ups, headsets, gunsights, gun mount details, and many other small structural details.  The ammunition boxes and other details associated with the ball turret rig are another highlight.  Details for the tail gunner’s compartment, along with sight and aiming reticle, are also included here.  A very useful template is included to assist in the accurate bending of the ammo chute links into a three-dimensional shape.  Do note a few of the links of the ammo cartridge chutes were a little bent in my sample, but a little attention to bend them back into place should be sufficient to return them to “like new” condition.

Eduard # 491072 B-17G Wooden Floors and Ammo Boxes (MSRP: $29.95):  There were quite a bit of wooden items inside a B-17G’s metal airframe, and this set contains two pre-painted frets amounting to 51 parts.  These cover two different shades of truly well pre-painted wood details, and feature the floor surfaces of the bombardier and navigator’s compartment, the navigator’s desk, the radio compartment floor, the floor planking in the waist section leading to the tail gunner’s position, and the floor of the tail gunner’s compartment.  Other items include every wooden ammunition box, box frame details, and data placards.  The pre-painting here is sublime, from the color variations of the wood, fine wood grain details, and even rivet/nail details.

Eduard #481012 B-17G Ammo Feed Chutes (MSRP: $34.95):  The Flying Fortress bristled with defensive armament in the form of ten .50 caliber machine guns, each fed by prominent ammunition cartridge feed chutes.  This stand-alone set contains one photoetched metal fret with 15 parts along with an invaluable folding template for the ammo chutes.  It covers all the visible ammo chutes, from the nose guns to the radio operator, ball turret, waist guns, and tail guns of the B-17G.

Individually, any one of these sets will bring some very nice additional detail to your 1:48 scale HK B-17G.  Used together, they will enhance detail and accuracy in this kit in some very significant ways.  When I build my HK Flying Fortress, all of these sets will be used in this project.  

Sincere thanks are owed to Eduard for the review sample.  You can visit them on the web at http://www.eduard.com and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/EduardCompany     

Haagen Klaus
Scale Modeling News & Reviews Editor
Detail & Scale